NFL commissioner Roger Goodell issued a mea culpa in a statement that was backed by action. The policy, essentially, tells players that to commit a violent act against a woman is unacceptable and punishable. The six-day suspension for a first offense is good, but the lifetime ban for a second offense shows almost unbelievable commitment on the part of the commissioner.

The NFL is not only giving their current players a standard to uphold, but sending a message to aspiring football players, who now have much more to aspire to than being good on the field.

So where is our beloved baseball in all this? Where is their stance and clear message for veterans, aspiring players, and minor leaguers?

Baseball PTB aren't shy about standing strong on many things. Those things include gambling and Pete Rose's lifetime ban. Also included is a giant stand on women's attire, sorry, baseball reporters attire in the press box. They banned shirts and dresses without sleeves. Because, integrity.

Let's be clear. The rule that Rose broke isn't connected or comparable to anything else. One doesn't make the other better. He broke the no-gambling-on-baseball rule, he agreed to the ban, and whether that ban is lifted later this year, or ever, is a whole other issue.

As for no sleeves, I've broken this rule and so has every other woman. I'm not sure anyone noticed, but so far, we've not been banned.

But it's game time for MLB on the issue of domestic violence. And therre's no excuse for hesitation. If female reporter's, sorry, reporters of all genders needed to watch what they were wearing, so as not to seem unprofessional in the name of integrity, why are players not held to the same standards as human beings?

We've seen players not just accused of domestic violence, but also rape, and most of them continue to play. They certainly weren't punished on any level that showed MLB cared about violence against women. Rays pitcher Josh Lueke, now in the playoffs with the Durham Bulls, called his rape of a woman, 'just one of those freak things.' Players such as Brett Myers and Carlos Marmol were accused of domestic violence. The Phillies immediate response was to put Myers back on the hill, post-incident. He was promptly booed at Fenway Park, not far from where he allegedly had hit his wife.Myers was never suspended, he simply took a leave of absence. The case was eventually dismissed due to his wife's decision not to press charges.

While Myers stood before the media in a press conference and admitted wrongdoing, taking full responsibility for his actions. MLB was never alarmed by the incident, nor do they ever seem alarmed by any of these acts of violence.

For all of Rose's self-interest in having the ban lifted, he's always made an excellent point. Why are these guys never punished for committing violence against women?

Minor league players are particularly vulnerable to immaturity and a lack of respect for those around them. Some are coming straight from high school into professional life, others are coming from the Dominican Republic, as young as 16, into a new culture. No one in MLB is giving them clear-cut guidelines on how to conduct themselves as men when it comes to women. There's been incidents reported over the years, misconduct that sometimes compels teams to make a statement (The Rays actually suspended minor league outfielder Josh Sale for making lewd statements on his Facebook page about a stripper). But that's not enough. This needs to go big. This needs to be a priority on the part of MLB.

Here's what Goodell said in regard to young football players:

"We will expand the educational components in our college, high school and youth football programs that address domestic violence and sexual assault."

That is commitment deserving of a round of very long applause.

Minor leaguers receive every kind of training, that now includes social media guidelines for players that they're required to follow. http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/14/major-league-baseball-releases-its-social-media-policy-and-its-pretty-good/ They're taught how to handle the media, how to hustle, how to stay in shape, and what time the bus leaves. But they aren't being told that to assault your girlfriend, wife, or a girl you're just out having fun with is punishable with a six-game suspension on first offense and a Pete Rose type lifetime ban for the next offense. That would be amazing.

On a personal note, I'm a survivor of relationship violence, something I experienced at the hands of an ex-boyfriend. I wrote about it here and in case you missed it, that story was titled 'How Surviving An Abusive Relationship Influences My Career In Baseball.' Imagine my frustration knowing how little the very sport I've loved all my life and make my living in, refuses to take a stand on a serious crime against women.

Roger Goodell has set the bar. And I thank him. MLB is standing in the NFL's shadow, on their soapbox about Pete Rose and media attire. Those are important issues. But doing nothing to punish players for violence against women taints the sport.

They can't take a solid stand on those issues, without being champions for the prevention of domestic violence as well.

August 23, 2014

Some guys feel they're just cut out for the bullpen and Kyle McKenzie believes in the 'bullpen mentality'.

"I was a starter before I had Tommy John, but they didn't want me to pitch too many innings when I came back," he said Saturday on a road trip to Connecticut with the Hudson Valley Renegades. "You need to be able to lock in quick. You don't when you'll pitch. I love it."

So far, the righty is adapting just fine to pro ball. His experience since being selected in the 20th round as a senior out of Tulane University has spanned 21 innings through 14 appearances. He began the season in Gulf Coast League, then briefly jumped to the Appalachian League, before his promotion to Short-A Hudson Valley of the New York Penn League. He has a 1.38 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, with 12 strikeouts through 13 innings for the Renegades.

The Boston Massachusetts native's road to the Rays included being drafted in the 30th round by the New York Yankees, while attending Thayer Academy High School, in 2009. The difficulty of continuing their education or signing with the team that's drafted them comes down to many factors. We think we know the process well, but digging deeper, there's always details that emerge that illuminate just how crucial a decision it is.

"At the time, someone put it to me like this, 'Do you want to be an eighteen-year old kid or an eighteen-year-old adult?'I wanted to polish my skills and grow up," he said.

As it goes in the beginning of playing professionally, adapting is key. McKenzie quickly understood what he needed to do to develop and excel.

"I'm getting ahead of guys more and not leaving the ball up. It's about establishing a routine and making quick adjustments."

There's only a few weeks left of the season and in the time he has left, he has a few key areas of focus.

"Learning how to be able to read guys. Just staying locked in. It's between the ears, and I'm learning that every single day."

You can follow Kyle McKenzie on Twitter @kmckenzie13.Read my continued Rays MiLB coverage on Minor League Ball. Check out more draft updates this week there.

August 11, 2014

Like many years past, the New York Yankees did not own a first-round draft selection in this past June's MLB draft. With their first available pick in the second round, the Bronx Bombers selected left-handed reliever Jacob Lindgren out of Mississippi State University.

The 21-year old Lindgren signed quickly with the Yankees; inking a hefty deal that included a lucrative $1.1 million signing bonus. The south-paw has ascended through their farm system as rapidly as any player in franchise history. Lindgren now has already pitched at four different levels of the minor leagues (Gulf Coast League, South Atlantic League, Florida State League and Eastern League) despite having a mere 13 career games under his belt.

Currently in Double-A Trenton, Lindgren has showcased an advanced repertoire of pitches that already has General Manager Brian Cashman considering adding him to the big-league club when rosters expand in September.

"It's been a whirlwind, but I'm just excited about the whole experience," Lindgren said. "It's pretty cool that they have the confidence in me to have sent me this far already, but I'm just trying to make the most of it and keep making my pitches when I have to."

Of the 48 outs that Lindgren has recorded over his 16 innings of work, 33 of them have come via the strikeout.

"I'm just trying to execute my pitches," said Lindgren. "The hitters have to hit the ball no matter what level you're at, so you just have to let them try to hit it."

With three years of big-time college experience under his belt, the Yankees felt that Lindgren could take the fast-track to the majors when they selected him nine weeks ago. His heavy fastball and devastating slider may be more equipped to get big-league hitters out than even Cashman believed back in June.

"It's pretty crazy to think that the majors are right around the corner, but I just have to keep executing and take it one day at a time," Lindgren said, "I'm just pitching and going where they tell me."

Lindgren added, "I have to keep getting better no matter what level I'm at, and hopefully one day I can be pitching at Yankee Stadium."

With just 20 games remaining in the minor league season, "one day" may be just a few short weeks away.

August 10, 2014

Catching Up With Jayce Boyd
First baseman Jayce Boyd began this season with the Binghamton Mets in his second year of professional baseball. Much like teammate Brandon Nimmo (see link below), Boyd has made a quick path to the more advanced level of the minors.

He's hitting .279 on the season, with 46 RBI, 6 home runs, and 42 walks. While the numbers haven't increased by a lot from month to month, he's shown solid contact and is displaying a patient approach. He's currently third on the team with 42 walks. In 2013, he had tremendous success finishing .330/.410/.461. combined between Florida State and South Atlantic Leagues, and was named a Mets Organizational All-Star.

Here's what he said last week.

On Advancing To Double-A

It’s definitely been an adjustment, especially coming off of last year. You always hold high expectations for yourself, but you know you’re going to be coming in and facing more difficult competition, older guys, guys that know the game. Those are difficult challenges in itself. It’s about staying grounded in your approach whether you’re failing or succeeding, and not making too many drastic changes. Then when you are hitting well, figure out why you’re doing good and repeat that over and over. I’ve made improvements even game to game this year.

Maintaining Approach

Getting keys within yourself. Knowing where to set up, in box where youw ant to me. Get as much info as you can. At BP you’re preparing for the guy you’re facing that night, not just taking BP. Am I facing a right or lefty today? You try to wrok out on that approach then translate to the game. Stay ahead of the game, that slows it down.

On Recovering From Surgery

I had surgery this off-season. I had Thoracic outlet syndrome. So I’ve been building strength back up. You deal with it as the season goes on. I’m looking forward to during off-season, and getting back to one-hundred percent.

Improvements Made

Just being physically prepared to play every day. I don’t want to be prepared twelve out of fifteen at-bats. I want to be prepared every time I’m in the box.

Brandon Nimmo Talks to Minor League Ball

Last week, top Mets prospect Brandon Nimmo talked to Minor League Ball about the Mets plan for him and how he's developed his plate approach.

In 2012, Gabriel Ynoa made his short-season debut and proceeded to dominate the league. As part of the quadruple-threat Brooklyn Cyclones rotation, with Hansel Robles, Rainy Lara and Luis Mateo, Ynoa finished with the 3rd lowest WHIP of those four (0.93) and 7th highest in strikeouts (64) through 13 starts and 76.2 innings pitched. He followed that with an outstanding 2013 season. In 135.2 innings, he struck out 106, allowing just 16 walks for the Savannah Sand Gnats.

The righty started 2014 in St. Lucie, making 14 starts, and going 8-2 with a 3.95 ERA, and 64 strikeouts before being promoted to Double-A Binghamton. Through 28 innings he’s got a 4.08 ERA with 19 strikeouts. In four starts in July, he’s allowed 13 earned runs, with a particularly rough outing to start the month in which he allowed 5 runs and 2 walks in 5 innings. The following start he struck out 9, without allowing a run. That was his 2nd most strikeouts for the season, with an 11 K start for St. Lucie already in the books. The results show some ups and downs, a mixture of what he’s capable of and is improving.

In a July 27th start against the Trenton Thunder, the sink of Ynoa’s fastball was impressive, as was his willingness to attack the zone in any count. He struggled with command in the 1st inning, with a tendency to go low and inside, but the Thunder lineup ate that up. Then, with a pitch to Ben Gamel he elevated the ball in the middle of the plate, and Gamel singled. By contrast, when he faced Peter O’Brien, he got him to swing late on a high fastball that had good movement.
He threw first pitch strikes, but had a hard time staying ahead of hitters. He changed eye levels with varying success, flashing off-speed stuff that he needed to rely on a bit more, as his curveball had nice drop. He threw what looked like a mid-90’s fastball, as has been reported throughout his career. The other issue with the start was a high-pitch count. He wasn’t economical often, fatiguing his arm early. In his second worst start since July 4th, he allowed 4 earned runs, 8 hits, walked 2, and surrendered a home run.

For all the mistakes, there was just a lot to like about him, as there was in New York Penn League. If he can develop more consistent command and more bite in his curveball, and continue to use his changeup, he could be a huge asset to the Mets future. The fearlessness to go after hitters has always been another of his impressive qualities. But he also needs to allow his defense to play. He sometimes appeared to be going for the big strike.

Ynoa has progressed at a healthy pace, but as he faces more advanced hitters, he’ll need to polish his command and pitch deeper into games more effectively.